Not pre booked seats with Thomas Cook

longwalks1

We’ve always paid the extra to reserve seating on our flights to Greece, but what happens if we don’t? (We are wanting to money save for a change)

If we get to the airport early enough to check in, can we ask to be sat together, or is there a high chance we could be sat completely separate?

EveryWhere

You will be sat together unless the flight is full and other seats already blocked.
That's the point of paying, for your supposed piece of mind.
I certainly wouldn't bother unless I wanted a particular seat.

bagand96

Thomas Cook offer online check-in from 24 hours before your flight so it would be worth doing that to increase your chances of being sat together.

(I’m not sure if it’s available for package holiday customers or just flight only booked direct, but will be worth a try)

deeskeydoo

I've looked into this as I'm flying with TC airlines in August, GLA-RHO.
When you check in online, if you're not happy with the seats allocated, do not confirm them. Then, just keep logging in periodically until you're allocated seats you're happy with.
I hope it works, however, my partner and I can surely sit away from each other for a 4.5 hr flight, if need be. Obv, if I had children I wouldn't take this risk. Or would I? :rotfl:

Ganga

deeskeydoo wrote: »

I've looked into this as I'm flying with TC airlines in August, GLA-RHO.
When you check in online, if you're not happy with the seats allocated, do not confirm them. Then, just keep logging in periodically until you're allocated seats you're happy with.
I hope it works, however, my partner and I can surely sit away from each other for a 4.5 hr flight, if need be. Obv, if I had children I wouldn't take this risk. Or would I? :rotfl:

I thought that when you choose any seats on a TC flight you had to pay for them,the only way to get them free was to turn up at the airport or people who need assistance,ie wheelchair users get their seats free.

NoodleDoodleMan

When you check in online, if you're not happy with the seats allocated, do not confirm them. Then, just keep logging in periodically until you're allocated seats you're happy with.

TC will change pre-allocated seats because you haven't confirmed them ?

Why ? If you don't pay for preferred seats then your "choice" will be take it or leave it.

I don't think it works the way you describe.

If you don't confirm, they'll take no action - as far as I know.

Pollycat

britishboy wrote: »

We’ve always paid the extra to reserve seating on our flights to Greece, but what happens if we don’t? (We are wanting to money save for a change)

If we get to the airport early enough to check in, can we ask to be sat together, or is there a high chance we could be sat completely separate?

From what it says on TC website, your seats will already have been allocated before you get to the airport.

Do I have to pay for pre-booked seats?

Customers who have not pre-selected their seats will be allocated seats automatically by our check-in system, on the day of departure. We will do our best to allocate seats together, however this is not guaranteed.
If you wish to check-in online you can do so 24 hours before your flight. If you do not wish to pay for seats, your seats can be randomly assigned to you for the full booking, free of charge*. Keep in mind that you can only use this option at the time of the check-in.

https://support.thomascook.com/Your-Flights/Seating/1134029052/Do-I-have-to-pay-for-pre-booked-seats.htm

I'm not sure if the above is for TC packages, flight only or both.

NoodleDoodleMan

From what it says on TC website, your seats will already have been allocated before you get to the airport.

The days of seats being allocated by negotiation with check in desk staff on arrival at the airport for package holiday flights are past, no matter how early you get there.

I suspect that if the plane is not full there may be some room for manouevre, not sure how that works - however in my experience most flights are full, or there are very few empy seats, and they are no better than pre-allocated ones.

comeandgo

deeskeydoo wrote: »

I've looked into this as I'm flying with TC airlines in August, GLA-RHO.
When you check in online, if you're not happy with the seats allocated, do not confirm them. Then, just keep logging in periodically until you're allocated seats you're happy with.
I hope it works, however, my partner and I can surely sit away from each other for a 4.5 hr flight, if need be. Obv, if I had children I wouldn't take this risk. Or would I? :rotfl:

I agree with this. If you don't finalise the check in you can try again and see if you get better seats.

Westin

comeandgo wrote: »

I agree with this. If you don't finalise the check in you can try again and see if you get better seats.

Is this advice given because you have travelled and done this with Thomas Cook Airlines, or an experience from another airline’s online checkin system?

NoodleDoodleMan

Is this advice given because you have travelled and done this with Thomas Cook Airlines, or an experience from another airline’s online checkin system?

I was thinking much the same.

If the flight is full, as is likely, how does delaying the check in procedure lead to a "better seat" on the aircraft ?